Fireplace screen



Dec. 25, 1951 A. R. MURAT FIREPLACE SCREEN 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed 001;. 9, 1950 Illllll lllll m V M R. h w d A m M W a W MW Dec. 25, 1951 A. R. MURAT 2,579,690

FIREPLACE SCREEN Filed Oct. '9, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 4 9 m IQ A AA A A A A A l v k 24 c I I 29 13 25 23 22 Z45 F /'g. 5

Adolph R. Mumf- IN V EN TOR.

Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Adolph R. Murat, San Clemente, Calif.

Application October 9, 1950, Serial No. 189,203

Claims. 1

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in fireplace screens and more particularly to a screen roller for raising and lowering the screen and providing foot treadle operating means for the roller whereby the screen may be raised by the foot of a person while the hands are free to place logs on the fire.

An object of the invention is to provide a foot operated mechanism for raising and lowering the screen and including a brake mechanism for automatically holding the screen in raised position while the fire is being supplied with fuel or the fireplace is being cleaned.

Another object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is eificient and reliable in operation, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal broken sectional view of the roller for the screen taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure l and showing the rope and pulley operating means therefor;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on a line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on a line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on a line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on a line 6-45 of Figure 4; and

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on a line 1-1 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a fireplace screen of flexible foraminous or other suitable material for winding on a roller 6 having a shaft 1 journaled in bearings B in a horizontal housing 9 secured in front of the upper portion of a fireplace lll. one edge of the screen travels in a guide channel H at one side of the fireplace, while the other edge of the screen travels in a guide channel l2 at the side of a vertical housing l3 which extends downwardly from one end of horizontal housing 9.

A drum M in the housing 9 is keyed on one end of shaft 1 for winding a cable 15 thereon and which has one end extending downwardly around a pulley I5 and attached to the upper portion of housing I 3. Pulley I6 is rotatably mounted at the upper end of a bar I! which is slidable in a vertical guide I 8 secured in vertical housing 13 and a foot pedal or treadle I9 is secured to the lower end of bar ll by means of a web 20 which slides in a vertical slot 2| in the front of vertical housing I3 to position the treadle forwardly thereof.

A brake drum or disk 22 is integrally formed with or otherwise suitably fixed to drum l4 and with the periphery of which a wedge shaped brake 23 is engageable. Brake 23 is slidable vertically in housing 9 between the front Wall of the housing and the brake drum and is pulled upwardly into braking position by a contractible coil spring 24. A brake releasing lever 25 is pivoted on shaft I and projects outwardly into a position in front of housing 9 through a vertical slot 26 in the housing 9. A pin 21 projects laterally from one side of brake 23 into a slot 28 in lever 25 to connect the lever to the brake to release the brake by sliding the latter downwardly.

In the operation of the device a weighted strip 29 is attached to the lower end of screen 5 and by releasing brake 23 the weight of screen 5 unrolls the screen, or the screen may be pulled downwardly into its lower position to close the fireplace. In this position the treadle I9 is pulled upwardly by cable l5 which winds on drum I4 as the screen is lowered, and by stepping on the treadle the roller is rotated in a direction to raise the screen. During the raising movement of the screen the brake drum 22 is rotated in a direction tending to release brake 23 to prevent binding action between the brake and brake drum.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary. v

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A fireplace screen comprising a roller on which a screen is mounted for raising and lowering movement, foot pedal operated means for rotating the roller in a direction to raise the screen, braking means for the roller, and spring means holding the braking means in brake applying position, said braking means being released upon turning of the roller in a direction to raise the screen. i

2. A fireplace screen comprising a roller on which a screen is mounted for raising and lowering movement, a drum connected to the roller, 2.

ing movement by rotation of said roller in 0D- posite directions, respectively, a vertical guide, a foot pedal vertically slidable in said guide, and

operating connections between said pedal and roller rotating said roller in one direction upon downward sliding of said pedal.

1. A fireplace screen according to claim 3 in- 4 eluding a weight on said screen tending to lower the screen and rotate said roller in the other direction, said operating connections sliding said 7 pedal upwardly upon rotation of said roller in said other direction to position the pedal for downward sliding.

5. A fireplace screen according to claim 3 wherein said operating connections comprise a drum on said roller, a pull cable forming a loop with one end wound on said drum and the other end thereof anchoredin fixed position, and a bar carrying said pedal and having a pulley thereon working in said loop. 7

ADOLPH R. MURAT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 194,458 Noyes Aug. 21, 1877 1,090,546 Kudla Mar. 17, 1914 1,453,939 Koenig May 1,1923 Hanson Feb. 22, 193.8 

